Resolver stator clamping plate

ABSTRACT

A resolver assembly for an electric motor includes a housing, a resolver stator for an electric motor, and a clamping plate. The clamping plate includes a first radially extending portion fixed to the housing, a second radially extending portion pressing the resolver stator towards the housing, and an axially extending portion arranged axially between the first radially extending portion and the second radially extending portion. In an example embodiment, the clamping plate is elastically deformed. In an example embodiment, the resolver assembly includes a bolt extending through an orifice in the first radially extending portion radially outside of the axially extending portion to fix the clamping plate to the housing.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a resolver for an electricmotor, and more specifically to resolver stator clamping plate.

BACKGROUND

Resolvers are used to determine rotational position of electric motors.A resolver rotor rotates with a motor rotor and a resolver stator isrotationally fixed to a housing or other non-rotating component.

SUMMARY

Example aspects broadly comprise a resolver assembly for an electricmotor including a housing, a resolver stator for an electric motor, anda clamping plate. The clamping plate includes a first radially extendingportion fixed to the housing, a second radially extending portionpressing the resolver stator towards the housing, and an axiallyextending portion arranged axially between the first radially extendingportion and the second radially extending portion. In an exampleembodiment, the clamping plate is elastically deformed. In an exampleembodiment, the resolver assembly includes a bolt extending through anorifice in the first radially extending portion radially outside of theaxially extending portion to fix the clamping plate to the housing.

In an example embodiment, the clamping plate forms a complete ringsurrounding an outer diameter of the resolver stator. In an exampleembodiment, the first radially extending portion is an annular disk andthe axially extending portion is a tab extending from the annular diskradially outside an outer diameter of the resolver stator. In an exampleembodiment, the clamping plate includes a semicircular portionconnecting a distal end of the axially extending portion, opposite thefirst radially extending portion, to the second radially extendingportion.

In some example embodiments, the resolver stator includes a notch andthe housing includes a tab disposed in the notch for positioning theresolver stator relative to the housing. In an example embodiment, theresolver stator is radially and circumferentially positioned by the tabin the notch.

In some example embodiments, the resolver assembly includes an electricmotor and a resolver rotor. The electric motor includes a stator fixedto the housing and a rotor rotatable relative to the housing and thestator. The resolver rotor is radially aligned with the resolver statorand fixed to the rotor for corotation. In an example embodiment, theresolver assembly includes a bearing. The rotor includes a rotorcarrier, the resolver rotor is fixed to the rotor carrier, and thebearing radially positions the rotor carrier relative to the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The single FIGURE illustrates a top-half cross-sectional view of ahybrid module according to an example aspect of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It should beappreciated that like drawing numbers appearing in different drawingviews identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements.Also, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merelyexamples and other embodiments can take various and alternative forms.The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features could beexaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components.Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed hereinare not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representativebasis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ theembodiments. As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand,various features illustrated and described with reference to any one ofthe figures can be combined with features illustrated in one or moreother figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustratedor described. The combinations of features illustrated providerepresentative embodiments for typical applications. Variouscombinations and modifications of the features consistent with theteachings of this disclosure, however, could be desired for particularapplications or implementations.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularaspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the presentdisclosure. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific termsused herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one ofordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. Although anymethods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those describedherein can be used in the practice or testing of the disclosure, thefollowing example methods, devices, and materials are now described.

The following description is made with reference to the single FIGURE.The single FIGURE illustrates a top-half cross-sectional view of ahybrid module according to an example aspect of the present disclosure.Hybrid module 100 includes resolver assembly 102. The resolver assemblyincludes housing 104, resolver stator 106 for electric motor 108, andclamping plate 110. The clamping plate includes radially extendingportion 112 fixed to the housing, radially extending portion 114pressing the resolver stator towards the housing, and axially extendingportion 116 arranged axially between the radially extending portions 112and 114.

In the example embodiment shown in the FIGURE, the resolver assemblyincludes bolt 118 extending through orifice 120 in radially extendingportion 112, radially outside of the axially extending portion to fixthe clamping plate to the housing. The clamping plate is elasticallydeformed. In other words, when the clamping plate is fixed to thehousing, a portion of the clamping plate is deformed by the resolverstator to press the resolver stator. In the example embodiment shown inthe FIGURE, clamping plate 110 includes semicircular portion 122connecting distal end 124 of the axially extending portion, oppositeradially extending portion 112, to radially extending portion 114.Semicircular portion 122 is deflected when bolt 118 is tightened,clamping the resolver stator axially between the housing and radiallyextending portion 114.

Clamping plate 110 may form a complete ring surrounding an outerdiameter of the resolver stator, or the clamping plate may be one of aplurality of tabs distributed circumferentially about axis 126. Radiallyextending portion 112 may be an annular disk and the axially extendingportion may be a tab extending from the annular disk radially outsideouter diameter 128 of the resolver stator.

As shown in the FIGURE, resolver stator 106 includes notch 130 andhousing 104 includes tab 132 disposed in the notch for positioning theresolver stator relative to the housing. The resolver stator is radiallyand circumferentially positioned by the tab in the notch. Although a taband notch are shown, other embodiments are possible. For example, a oneof the resolver stator or the housing may include a cylindricalprotrusion and the other of the resolver or the housing may include adivot or a counterbore for receiving the protrusion. Also, resolverassembly 102 may include a plurality of tabs or protrusions distributedcircumferentially about axis 126.

Resolver assembly 102 includes electric motor 108 and resolver rotor136. The electric motor includes stator 138 fixed to the housing androtor 140 rotatable relative to the housing and the stator. Axiallyextending portion 116 is disposed radially within inside diameter 141 ofthe electric motor rotor. The resolver rotor is radially aligned withthe resolver stator and fixed to the rotor for corotation. In otherwords, the resolver rotor and the rotor rotate together. Resolverassembly 102 also includes bearing 142. The rotor includes rotor carrier144, the resolver rotor is fixed to the rotor carrier, and the bearingradially positions the rotor carrier relative to the housing. Theresolver rotor and the resolver stator work together to determine arotational position of the electric motor rotor relative to the electricmotor stator by transmitting an electrical signal to a motor controllervia an electrical cable (not shown).

As shown in the FIGURE, resolver assembly 102 is a part of hybrid module100 including torque converter 146 including torque converter clutch148. Hybrid module 100 also includes K0 clutch 150 for disconnecting theelectric motor rotor from a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine(ICE). Damper 152 helps isolate ICE torsional fluctuations from thehybrid module.

While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended thatthese embodiments describe all possible forms encompassed by the claims.The words used in the specification are words of description rather thanlimitation, and it is understood that various changes can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Aspreviously described, the features of various embodiments can becombined to form further embodiments of the disclosure that may not beexplicitly described or illustrated. While various embodiments couldhave been described as providing advantages or being preferred overother embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one ormore desired characteristics, those of ordinary skill in the artrecognize that one or more features or characteristics can becompromised to achieve desired overall system attributes, which dependon the specific application and implementation. These attributes caninclude, but are not limited to cost, strength, durability, life cyclecost, marketability, appearance, packaging, size, serviceability,weight, manufacturability, ease of assembly, etc. As such, to the extentany embodiments are described as less desirable than other embodimentsor prior art implementations with respect to one or morecharacteristics, these embodiments are not outside the scope of thedisclosure and can be desirable for particular applications.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

100 Hybrid module

102 Resolver assembly

104 Housing

106 Resolver stator

108 Electric motor

110 Clamping plate

112 Radially extending portion (first)

114 Radially extending portion (second)

116 Axially extending portion

118 Bolt

120 Orifice

122 Semicircular portion

124 Distal end (axially extending portion)

126 Axis

128 Outer diameter (resolver stator)

130 Notch (resolver stator)

132 Tab (housing)

136 Resolver rotor

138 Stator

140 Rotor

141 Inside diameter (rotor)

142 Bearing

144 Rotor carrier

146 Torque converter

148 Torque converter clutch

150 K0 clutch

152 Damper

What is claimed is:
 1. A resolver assembly for an electric motor,comprising: a housing; a resolver stator for an electric motor; and aclamping plate comprising: a first radially extending portion fixed tothe housing; a second radially extending portion pressing the resolverstator towards the housing; and an axially extending portion arrangedaxially between the first radially extending portion and the secondradially extending portion.
 2. The resolver assembly of claim 1 whereinthe clamping plate is elastically deformed.
 3. The resolver assembly ofclaim 1 further comprising a bolt extending through an orifice in thefirst radially extending portion radially outside of the axiallyextending portion to fix the clamping plate to the housing.
 4. Theresolver assembly of claim 1 wherein the clamping plate forms a completering surrounding an outer diameter of the resolver stator.
 5. Theresolver assembly of claim 1 wherein the first radially extendingportion is an annular disk and the axially extending portion is a tabextending from the annular disk radially outside an outer diameter ofthe resolver stator.
 6. The resolver assembly of claim 1 wherein theclamping plate comprises a semicircular portion connecting a distal endof the axially extending portion, opposite the first radially extendingportion, to the second radially extending portion.
 7. The resolverassembly of claim 1 wherein the resolver stator comprises a notch andthe housing comprises a tab disposed in the notch for positioning theresolver stator relative to the housing.
 8. The resolver assembly ofclaim 7 wherein the resolver stator is radially and circumferentiallypositioned by the tab in the notch.
 9. The resolver assembly of claim 1further comprising: an electric motor comprising a stator fixed to thehousing and a rotor rotatable relative to the housing and the stator;and a resolver rotor radially aligned with the resolver stator and fixedto the rotor for corotation.
 10. The resolver assembly of claim 9further comprising a bearing, wherein: the rotor comprises a rotorcarrier; the resolver rotor is fixed to the rotor carrier; and thebearing radially positions the rotor carrier relative to the housing.